The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-05

baby girl of two years, had sold their farm OF
$50 acres in Wetzell county, West Virginia, and
were moving to Chillcothe, No., near where
Postlethwaite had brother living, and where
he would make his future home. He had about
$500 in cash, check for 5000, and several notes
in his pocket. and these were burned with his
body, leaving the poor widow with three chill
dren with no clothing except what she wore,
two boys had left her but few moments before |
and gone from the coach to the smoker Post |
lethwaite, as half medal found in the wreck |
indicated, was soldier in the Union ranks ii |
the late war. being a member of Company A. |
Seventeenth Regiment West Virginia Volun-
teer Infantry In some way, that even Mrs.
Postlethwaite was unable to relate, she got out
of the car in which she had been travelling and
wandering away from the burning train, carry
ing her two youngest children in her arms fed
to the first house in which she found a light
She was almost crazed with fear and with diff
Guilty it WAS ascertained that her name was Mrs.
Mary Postiethwaite. The agents Of the Balti-
more q Ohio endeavored to take care of the
mother and children by sending them to
Chicago Junction, where the company have
hotel. On advice, however, of her friends, who
were telegraphed she consented to remain
in Republic until she should hear from her son,
who remained in West Virginia 1t was pitt
ful sight to see the poor woman, now breaking
forth in the wailing tones of her awful grief
and then to her little boy, not four years
of age, endeavoring to comfort her with the
words, 10 mamma, don't cry, don't cry mann
ma; I'll get papa.' little realizing the terrible
and almost desperate grief of his anguish
stricken and desolate mamma.
William Fredericks. fireman Of the express,
was caught between the tender and engine, and
lived for two hours, but it was found impossible
to effect his release. His mother is widow and
lives in Washington, D. G. He was member of
the Brotherhood of Firemen. which organization
took charge Of his remains. which were removed
to Chamberlain's undertaking establishment and
prepared for burial His face in death depicted
the agony of his sufferincs before death came to
his relief.
NJ. Fl. Parks, whose address could not be
learned, was also wedgeG in the wreck and
burned to death, after handing his money, let
ters and cards to one of the railroad employees.
His body was also consumed, as were those of
| several others whose names are not known and
perhaps never will be.
When your reporter reached the scene of the
| collision at l o'clock to-day, the ruins of the
| baggage car. express smoker and coach were
still burning, and scores of hands were endeav-
oring to clear the track. Here and there could
be seen spots of blood and pieces Of half-burned
and frozen human flesh, and the workmen were
| still finding portions of bodies in the burning
wreck. All the mail. express and baggage were
burned. including large sums Of money.
| The scene at the Chamberlain establishment
was one calculated to make the stoutest hearts
| quail. Nine shapeless trunks of human beings
were stretched out in row, like so many
charred logs There Postlethwate and his two
sons lay side by side. and seven Others none Of
whom copl6 y recognized; and near them mass
of flesh and bones that may have been parts Of
the bodies of a dozen different people,
At the depot was found VIM. F. Smith, o
| Waynesborough. Pa, who was a passenger il
the coach next to the sleepers. He was sitting
in the front part of the car, and when the col
lision occurred he was thrown violently agains
the front door of the car but was not in jured il
the least. He said he did not think there hat
been collision, but that the train had run of
the track. He helped the ladies in the ca
gather up their wraps and said when he wen
back to his seat to get his ha
he noticed the smoker in flames, and saw an i'm
migrant jump from the car through the roof ant
into wall OF flames. He said in tn,
coach was hurt seriously. One man had hi
hand burned slightly by falling against tn,
stove. After getting out Of the car he helped t,
uncouple the two sleepers and push them dowl
the track, so they would not be burned. HI
then picked up the Postlethwaite little GIRL VIII.
was wandering around in the snow, and carries
her to the depot at Republic.
w. S. Price, the baggaeemaster, was burne'
to crisp. His home is at Wheeling Their
was, no doubt many more perished in tn
wreck, as the number of persons who escape
and the remains recovered is not equal to th
number reported in the car. The number actu
ally lost may never be known.
number of watches were found in th
wreck, and one of them is described as follows
Open face, marked l. w. & Co., on barre
bridge, three ounce case, jewel mounted, Spring
} field movement, case No. 932, 009.
In the undertaking establishment of the littl
village, charred and blackened beyond semblanc
to humanity, lie the disfigured remains of min
of the victims and without perceptible odor
None of them could be recognized but Postle
thwaite and his two soma, who were found in
position which established their Identity
A diversity of opinion prevails regarding tn
real cause Of the accident. The reports agre
that there was carelessness on the part of tn
railroad employees, but whether blame should al
tach to the freight or passenger crew is matte
of conjecture. A thorough investigation will b
made. The coroner has taken charge of th
dead. 1t is now stated that seventeen is tn
number who were killed. and that out of tftee
passengers in the smoker but one escaped.
Private kilograms from Bellare, O.. announc
that Grant Mansell and George Simpson. of Mi